Navigating Grocery Shopping in Dubai

Grocery shopping in Dubai can be a tad overwhelming for newcomers. The sheer variety of options can leave your head spinning, and you’ll quickly discover that the familiar brands from back home often come with a hefty price tag here. Depending on your location, you’ll likely find yourself surrounded by the likes of Carrefour, Geant, Nesto, Viva, Lulu, Spinneys, Waitrose, Grandiose, and Choithrams. There are also dozens, if not hundreds, of smaller brands to choose from, not to mention the convenience of Amazon.

 

Exploring the Supermarkets

When we first touched down in Dubai, I embarked on a grand tour of all the big-name supermarkets, along with a few smaller players. It took a while, but I’ve now mastered the art of knowing where to go for specific products and the best prices.

 

Dubai Grocery: Budgeting

Just to give you an idea, we’re a family of two, do our own cooking, and dine out once a week. Our monthly grocery budget (excluding alcohol) stands at AED 2500, including cleaning products and other odds and ends you typically pick up from a supermarket. We comfortably stick to this budget.

 

Pricing

With the exception of Spinneys, Waitrose, Choithrams (they can be a bit spendy), and Viva (budget-friendly), my experience suggests that prices are pretty consistent across the board. So, feel free to buy wherever is convenient and offers the products you need.

Don’t get lured in by fancy European or non-regional brands you were accustomed to back home. Those items tend to come with a premium price tag. Instead, hunt for local or house brand equivalents. Otherwise, you might find yourself forking out AED 50 for a yogurt pot that was just AED 5 in your home country.

While it’s not the most intuitive option, you can use the Instashop website or app to compare product prices in various shops. You don’t have to place an order through Instashop, but it’s a handy tool for scouting the best deals on specific items, like certain coffees and butters, which we then purchase in bulk.

 

Meat

 

I personally think that the supermarket selection of meat is pretty decent, but there are varying opinions on this. Most meat comes from Brazil (budget-friendly), Australia, and New Zealand (a bit pricier).

If you’re particular about your meat or like to buy in bulk, consider exploring online options like Elfab and Carnistore . Elfab is particularly affordable and even supplies pork products (via WhatsApp, not via the website), the quality for both providers is top-notch, and they offer home delivery.

 

Pork

Pork can be a bit trickier to find in this part of the world, but it’s not that hard. Carrefour, Geant, Nesto, and Lulu, don’t carry any pork products. However, Grandiose, Spinneys, Choithrams, and Waitrose do offer a selection. Some of the larger stores, like the Spinneys in Motor City, have a great range of pork and other non-halal products. Keep in mind that certain gelatine and candies don’t contain pork but use other animal products that are sourced in non-halal compliant ways, therefore these can be found in the ‘non-muslim’ section in these supermarkets.

 

Fruit and Vegetables

Dubai offers an impressive array of fruits and vegetables, many sourced from countries less accessible in your home country, such as Iran, India, or various African nations. One delightful find for us is the Sindhri mango, renowned for its soft, quickly melting flesh. It’s available from June to July and quite popular in Dubai. We always make sure to enjoy the delights of mango season! Don’t miss the chance to taste them! Also, another highlight here is the avocados—they’re simply fantastic! They’re incredibly delicious, a stark contrast to what we were used to finding in the UK. So, rest assured, when it comes to fruits and veggies in the desert, there’s an abundance to choose from! Major supermarkets like Carrefour, Nesto, and Lulu offer an excellent selection at generally reasonable prices, unless you’re on the hunt for something particularly rare.

 

Alcohol

 

Similar to pork products, alcohol can’t be purchased everywhere. Thankfully, Dubai waved goodbye to its 30% alcohol tax in 2023, making it more affordable.

The main physical shops for alcohol are African & Eastern and MMI. You need a license to buy from these stores, but the good news is the license is free (at the store), and tourists only need to show their passport. You can read more on alcohol stores here. While prices are reasonable for most items, I’ve noticed that beer can be a bit pricier at these shops. Keep in mind that African & Eastern is on the Entertainer app, offering a 20% discount on everything except beer.

For even better deals, you can order online through Centaurus, although there’s a AED 50 delivery fee.

The most economical choice by far is driving to another emirate, especially RAK and UAQ. Popular spots include Barracuda, Pearl Hotel, Super Cellar, Al Hamra Cellar, and JMK Cellars. These options are not only affordable but also reliable, often significantly cheaper than in your home country. Barracuda even has a loyalty app for discounts and top-notch service. While there are even cheaper options out there, I’ve heard some sketchy things about fake products, so it’s better not to take the risk.

 

Specialty Products

 

While most products can be found in supermarkets, there will always be certain niches or nationalities that require specialised shops:

• Chinese / Asian: For a delightful array of options, head to Wemart in DIP and Deira. If you’re a foodie or love cooking, you’ll feel like you’re in Disneyland.
• Dutch: The French Corner in Al Quoz is your go-to for kroketten, frikandellen, pindasaus, and other Dutch essentials.
• Italian: While Eataly offers authentic Italian ingredients, they’re somewhat limited in their selection and can be pricey. Instead, give Casinetto, an online store with an extensive range, including pork products, a try.
• British: Most supermarkets have a UK section where you can find typical British products like Marmite. There are also a number of M&S food shops, though some may find their selection a tad underwhelming.
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Ordering Online

In Dubai, convenience is key, so almost every supermarket offers its own delivery service. There are also generic delivery services like Instashop, Careem, NowNow, and Talabat that can deliver from nearly any supermarket. We don’t use these services often, except for when we need a specialty item that’s not readily available nearby. Personally, I prefer strolling down the aisles to see what’s on offer, but judging by the multitude of people sporting Instashop shirts in every supermarket, it’s clear that this app is a crowd favourite.

 

Amazon

And then there’s Amazon. Although we don’t rely on it for fresh products, they frequently have great deals on cleaning products and hard-to-find specialty items. We use Amazon quite a bit, and we’re consistently impressed with their service and prices.

 

Our Dubai Grocery Store Preferences

We mostly shop at Geant because it’s conveniently located and offers a decent selection. For pork products like salami and prosciutto, we turn to Spinneys. We also like to pick up unique European items from Viva, which are hard to find elsewhere, and they’re reasonably priced. When we’re feeling adventurous, we make a trip to Wemart.

 

Grocery Shopping In Dubai Summary

So, there you have it – everything you need to know about grocery shopping in Dubai. In summary, you cannot go wrong with the big names. For pork products, Spinneys is your best bet, but for your regular shopping, there are plenty of great options to choose from, and prices are fairly similar across the board. As for alcohol, Barracuda is our go-to spot. It’s a one-hour drive, so we buy in bulk making the trip two to three times a year, typically around the time we’re hosting parties.

 

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